Overview

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the spot where your jaw connects to your skull to allow you to close and open your jaw easily. Sometimes the TMJ is injured or damaged, resulting in a painful condition called temporomandibular joint dysfunction or disorder (TMD). If you are experiencing pain or hearing noises when you move your jaw, schedule a consultation with experienced dentist Dr. James Peterson to determine if you have TMD. At his practice, James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Coppell, TX, Dr. Peterson uses advanced equipment to examine and treat your TMD to ease pain. Your TMJ therapy will be based on the cause of your TMD and your specific condition, but some options include oral appliances (mouth or night guards) and splint therapy.

Reviews

"I went in for a routine dental cleaning. Ashley did a great job! Dr Peterson and Courtney are always a pleasure and helpful during my visits."

- L.H. / Google / Oct 13, 2018

"Great service and bedside manners. Make's you feel like they care"

- S.G. / Google / Jan 12, 2019

"Always kind, warm, professional, and efficient! Highly recommended!"

- J.H. / Google / Jan 12, 2019

"Dr. Peterson and his staff make the dental experience a breeze! I have been a patient since 2005 and Jennifer is my favorite for cleanings. I’ve had crowns, fillings and veneers. Simple, painless (as dental work can be), and professional. I like that they have email reminders and simple to schedule appointments."

- K.B. / Google / Jan 06, 2019

"Dr. Peterson and his staff are warm, wonderful, and (most-important-of-all) very competent. They use all the latest technologies and help keep my teeth in tip-top shape. I always leave there smiling! :-)>"

4.9

Best Candidates

Temporomandibular joint disorder might be brought on by a single injury to the jaw, chronic grinding of your teeth and clenching your jaw (bruxism), or a misaligned bite (dental malocclusion). Medical conditions that might lead to TMD include a tumor in the TMJ or arthritis. In some cases, the reason for TMD is uncertain, but if you are experiencing signs and symptoms, Dr. Peterson can still diagnose and treat your jaw. The most common symptoms of TMD are pain or tenderness in the jaw, spasms in your facial muscles, feeling as if your jaw is stiff or stuck, and headaches that start near your ears. Another symptom is hearing popping, cracking, or clicking whenever you open your jaw.

What To Expect

To help diagnose temporomandibular disorder, Dr. Peterson will carefully listen and understand your concerns before performing a physical examination. During the exam, he will assess the movement of your jaw and start looking for indications of jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and misalignment. He will also feel the jawbone and surrounding area for any tenderness and inflammation. Dr. Peterson may order digital x-rays of your lower face or a bite analysis to look for underlying causes that could determine your treatment method. Based on the exam, he will go over your treatment options that could include a dental appliance or a splint.

Follow-Up

Along with procedures to fix the underlying cause of your temporomandibular joint disorder, Dr. Peterson can recommend other means to ease pain and other symptoms at home. This includes a liquid or soft food diet, avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails, heat packs on your jaw, and relaxation techniques.

It is important that you continue to attend follow-up visits so Dr. Peterson can check the progress of your TMJ therapy. If your treatment is not helping sufficiently, he may recommend a different approach. Once your TMD has been treated, you should continue receiving annual dental exams at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to maintain your oral health.

Advanced TMD Treatments

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain makes it difficult to chew, speak, and enjoy your day-to-day life. Since there are many possible causes, symptoms, and solutions for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), schedule a consultation with Dr. James Peterson at his office in Coppell, TX so that he can find the treatment for you. He will give you a thorough examination before providing a diagnosis and discussing your options. Contact the team at James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to receive more information and schedule an appointment.